Fixed cartridge magazine

ABSTRACT

A firearm cartridge magazine system comprises one or more sidewalls extending between a base and an upper opening, wherein a hollow interior is defined by the base and the one or more sidewalls, wherein the upper opening opens into the hollow interior. An aperture is positioned on at least one of the one or more sidewalls between the opening and the base. A spring extends between a block and the base, wherein the spring and block are within the hollow interior.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to Provisional Application No.62/431,781 filed on Dec. 8, 2016, entitled “CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE” theentire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the field of fixed cartridge magazinesfor firearms.

2. Description of Related Art

Projectiles are fired from cartridges that are positioned in aparticular orientation within a firearm. The positioning of thecartridge is performed manually by the user or autonomously through aclip or magazine with a spring bias forcing the cartridge into position.Magazines are favored for their ease of use and ability to manage alarge number of cartridges at a time.

Current magazines have seen little improvements over the many years theyhave been available. Original configurations provide for a housing thatis sized relative to the caliber of the cartridge being used or thefirearm accepting the magazine. Within the housing a spring providespressure against a follower towards an opening in one end of thehousing. The housing may be a rather simple rectangle to a more complexdrum-style depending on the capacity of magazine to hold a large numberof cartridges. Regardless of the shape, currently magazines are fixed inthe number of cartridges that they can hold. That is, the magazines arenot adaptable to meet varying standards of compliance.

Innovation involving firearms, and specifically their capacity to holdmultiple cartridges, has been accompanied with evolving legislativestandards driven by a plethora of factors from political agendas tocurrent events. The second amendment of the United States Constitutionaffords the right to keep and bear arms. Such a right is often debatedand such debates have resulted in individual states imposing varyingregulations on firearm manufacturing including the manufacturing andpairing of peripherals such as the magazine. Specifically, some stateshave placed limitations on the number of cartridges a magazine iscapable of housing. Other limitations include various regulations thatwould require the fixation of an otherwise detachable magazine inattempts to prevent rapid reloading of the firearm.

These limitations and regulations have resulted in firearm owners beingforced to turn over high capacity magazines or modify their firearms andmagazine in such a way to prevent rapid reloading. It has created such ahigh cost on the owner to have to re-purchase compliant magazines aswell as the states to police and recycle non-compliant components.

Based on the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a magazine thatmaintains the intended convenience of reloading while being adaptableand complaint regarding the evolving limitations placed on use andownership.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A firearm cartridge magazine system comprises one or more sidewallsextending between a base and an upper opening, wherein a hollow interioris defined by the base and the one or more sidewalls, wherein the upperopening opens into the hollow interior. An aperture is positioned on atleast one of the one or more sidewalls between the opening and the base.A spring extends between a block and the base, wherein the spring andblock are within the hollow interior.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises a door sealingly engagingthe aperture.

In an embodiment, the door is hingedly attached to the one or moresidewalls,

In an embodiment, the door is slidingly engaged to the one or moresidewalls.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises a handle attached to theblock, wherein the handle extends outward from the one or moresidewalls, wherein the one or more sidewalls has a second openinglongitudinally disposed between the opening and the base, wherein thesecond opening is closed before the upper opening, wherein the handlefacilitates manipulation of the block against the spring.

In an embodiment, the aperture accepts one or more cartridges.

In an embodiment, the one or more cartridges are positioned within thehollow interior above the block.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises a locking mechanism,wherein the locking mechanism retains a cartridge magazine to a firearm.

The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, willbe apparent from the following, more particular description of thepreferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, andthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objectsand advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuingdescriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings brieflydescribed as follows.

FIG. 1 is a top elevation view of the cartridge magazine, according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top elevation view of the cartridge magazine, according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom elevation view of the cartridge magazine, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the cartridge magazine, according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the cartridge magazine, according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a bottom elevation view of the cartridge magazine, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a top elevation view of the cartridge magazine, according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a bottom elevation view of the cartridge magazine, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a top elevation view of the cartridge magazine, according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a side elevation view of the cartridge magazine, according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a bottom view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a side elevation view of the cartridge magazine, according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a side view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a bottom view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a side view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a side elevation view of the cartridge magazine, according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a side elevation view of the cartridge magazine, according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of the cartridge magazine, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages maybe understood by referring to FIGS. 1-43, wherein like referencenumerals refer to like elements.

A cartridge magazine 100 has a hollow interior 102 defined by at aplurality of sidewalls 104 attached to one another an extending from abase 106 towards an opening at a top end 108. The opening at the top end108 is configured to facilitate the transition of a cartridge 150 fromthe magazine 100 into a firearm. A spring 110 in communication with thebase 106 biases a block 112 within the hollow interior 102 toward thetop end 108. A sidewall 104A has an aperture 114A at least as large as acartridge 150 being inserted therein. On the opposite sidewall 104B, isan aperture 114B that is provided generally perpendicular to the top end108. A lever 116 having one end attached to the block 112 extendsoutward through the aperture 114B.

The top end 108 is further configured to retain the block 112 and spring110 within the magazine 100. For example, the opening at the top end 108is defined by one or more of the sidewalls 104 terminating in a curve orangle towards the opening.

The aperture 114B disposed on the sidewall 104B extends generallyparallel to the top end and is positioned on the sidewall 104B betweenthe top end and the base 106.

In another embodiment, a cover 118 is hingedly attached to the sidewall104A near the aperture 114A where the cover 118 is of sufficient size tocover the aperture 114A. A hinge 120 is attached to one side of thecover either above of below the aperture 114A allowing the cover 118 tobe in a closed position, over the aperture 114A, when the cover 118 isfolded up towards the top or folded down towards the base 106. In analternative embodiment, the cover 118 is a door that allows forretention of the cartridges 150 relative to the aperture 114A and can bereleasably engaged to the sidewall 104A in a closed position to allowfor the introduction of cartridges 150 in an open position.

In an alternative embodiment, the cover 118 is in communication with thesidewall 104A in a sliding engagement with the sidewall 104A to closeoff the aperture 114A. The cover may extend around an exterior perimeterof the magazine 100 as a sleeve. In some embodiments, the cover 118 maybe spring biased towards a closed position. In use, a user pulls orslides the cover 118 away from a closed position over the aperture 114Ato an open position exposing the aperture 114A.

In use, a user installs the magazine 100 into a receiver of the firearm.The user then engages the cover 118 moving it from the closed positionto the open position whereby the aperture 114A is exposed. After theaperture 114A is exposed, the user pulls the lever 116 against thespring bias thereby adjusting the position of the block closer to thebase 106. When the block has been adjusted closer to the base 106relative to the aperture, the user inserts one or more cartridges intothe hollow interior of the magazine through the aperture. The number ofcartridges is determined by the user based on the number of cartridgesthe magazine has the capacity to hold or the number of cartridges theuser intends to fire. When one or more cartridges have been insertedinto the magazine, the lever 116 is released from its adjusted positionnear the base 106 allowing the spring to bias the block towards the oneor more cartridges, thereby biasing the one or more cartridges towardsthe opening at the top end of the magazine.

In an embodiment, the lever 116 can be locked into an adjusted positionnear the base 106 while the user is inserting the one or morecartridges. In another embodiment, the lever 116 remains unlockedrequiring the user to apply continuous force to maintain the compressionof the spring towards the base 106. Once the user releases thecontinuous force, the resiliency of the spring results in the biasing ofthe block towards the opening at the top end.

In an alternative embodiment, the cartridge magazine 100 operates in asystem with a locking mechanism 122 to affix the magazine release 124and thereby affixing the magazine 100 to the firearm. The lockingmechanism 122 has a magazine release 124 with a plate 124A attached toone end. A second plate 124B of the same general dimensions as themagazine release plate 124A is provided to affix the magazine release124 in position thereby preventing the articulation of the release 124to resulting in the magazine 100 being permanently affixed onceinstalled to the firearm. In an embodiment, the second plate 124B ispositioned abutting an interior surface of a trigger guard 128 of thefirearm while the release plate 124A is positioned on a surfaceimmediately exterior to the interior surface where the second plate 124Bis positioned. Fasteners 130 extend between the second plate 124B andthe release plate 124A to attach the two plates together having thetrigger guard 128 secured between the two plates 124A and 124B.

In another embodiment, the locking mechanism 122 has a first componentengaging a first side of the firearm and extending through to a secondside of the firearm. The extension of the first component attached to asecond component. In some embodiments, the attachment is permanentthrough a fusion or clipping engagement preventing the release of thefirst component from the second component. In other embodiments, theattachment is releaseable wherein the second component is threadinglyengaged with a threaded shank of the first component extending throughthe firearm. The second component prevents articulation of the firstcomponent, wherein articulation of the first component allows forrelease of the magazine 100. In this way, the first and second componentwork to lock the magazine 100 in an installed position within thefirearm. For an illustrative example, an AR-15 platform rifle has amagazine release operated by the depression of a button on the secondside of the rifle. When the button is depressed a magazine release isremoved from a locking position of the magazine 100. The presentconfiguration locking mechanism would prevent the magazine release,first component, from being moved as the bottom would be permanentlyfixed or a locking second component would be attached to the extensionof the magazine release through the firearm.

In another embodiment, the second component has a diameter or outerperimeter larger than an opening in the second side of the firearmthereby preventing the second component from entering such opening.

In an alternative embodiment, a locking mechanism 122 is attached to thefirearm platform. The locking mechanism 122 restricts operation of amagazine release 124. The restricted magazine release 124 acts to lockthe cartridge magazine 100 in attachment with the firearm platform. Inanother embodiment, the cartridge magazine 100 is permanently affixed tothe firearm platform. The magazine 100 may be welded, adhered, orotherwise built within the receiver of the firearm platform. Where thecartridge magazine 100 is built within a receiver, the firearm platformis manufactured having the cartridge magazine 100 incorporated into thestructure of the receiver.

In an embodiment, the magazine release 124 of the firearm platform isconfigured to lock the cartridge magazine 100 in communication with thefirearm platform.

In an alternative embodiment the cartridge magazine 100 has a depression152A on a section 152 that is configured to engage the magazine release124 of the firearm platform. The depression 152A receives an extensionof the magazine release (not shown in the figures) such that theengagement between the extension of the magazine release and thedepression 152A form a locking fit between the firearm platform and thecartridge magazine 100. In another embodiment, the sidewall 154containing the depression 152A has a tab 156. In a particularembodiment, the tab 156 is spring-biased. The spring-biased tab 156 ofthe sidewall 154 is where the depression is located on the sidewall. Thespring-biased tab 156 is moveable from a resting position. The restingposition of the spring-biased tab 156 is coplanar with the remainingportion of the sidewall 154. In a releasing position, the tab 156 isbiased towards the interior of the cartridge magazine 100. Biasing thetab 156 towards the interior allows for release of the cartridgemagazine 100 by separating the depression away from the extension. Inanother embodiment, the tab 156 glidingly engages the sidewall 154 andis moveable by sliding the tab 156 within the resting plane.

In some embodiments, the magazine 100 is based on a standard magazinerelease system (e.g., a release system of an AR-15 platform rifle). Themagazine release button is screwed to an “L-shaped” activation arm 162,which secures the magazine 100 in place by positioning itself in anotch-type indentation, located on the side of the magazine. When theactivation arm is tightened securely, a protruding portion 162A of thearm 162 will robustly position itself directly into a notch on the sideof the magazine 100. This confidently prevents the magazine 100 frombeing released, even with the release button depressed.

In some embodiments, the activation arm 162 includes a protrusionportion 162B. A magazine release button of a magazine 100 can bereplaced with a nut 164, which allows the activation arm 162 to betightened where it secures the magazine 100 permanently in place andthen breaks beyond a specific torque. This renders the activation arm162 and the nut 164 combination irremovable, securing the magazine 100permanently to the firearm.

In some embodiments, the magazine 100 is configured to retain a specificnumber of cartridges therein. For example, the magazine 100 may beconfigured to retain any number of cartridges and the number may bedetermined by statutory regulations on the allowed number of cartridgesfor which the magazine 100 can retain. The magazine 100 may have ageometric shape defined by the one or more sidewalls and the based toaccommodate the desired number of cartridges. For example, a drum-stylemagazine has a circular shape and a ten-round magazine has a rectangularor crescent shape.

The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments forthe purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the inventioncan be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not beregarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosedherein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with thefollowing claims.

1. A firearm cartridge magazine system, wherein the cartridge magazinecomprises: a body having a base and multiple sidewalls that define ahollow interior configured to store one or more cartridges; a firstaperture disposed on a first sidewall from among the one or moresidewalls, wherein the first aperture defines a path on the firstsidewall; a second aperture disposed on a second sidewall from amongmultiple sidewalls and sized to receive the one or more cartridges,wherein the second sidewall is opposite to the first sidewall on thebody; and a block housed within the hollow interior and extendingoutward from the first sidewall, wherein the block is configured tomoved towards the base along the path defined by the first aperture; anda spring configured to the block and housed within the hollow interior.2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cover configured to thesecond sidewall and sized to sealingly engage the second aperture. 3.The system of claim 2, further comprising: a hinge configured to thesecond sidewall and attaching a side of the cover the second side wall.4. (canceled)
 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a handleattached to the block and extending outward from the a surface of thefirst sidewall wherein the handle is configured to be moved laterallyalong an axis the first sidewall extending between a top of the body andthe base of the body.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The system of claim 1, whereinthe one or more cartridges are positioned within the hollow interiorabove the block after being received through the aperture.
 8. The systemof claim 1, further comprising: a locking mechanism configured to attachthe locking mechanism retains a attach a top of the body to a receiverof the firearm.